Folding table.



0. M. OTTE.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-I7. 191B- 1 ,800,86 1 o Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

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To all whom it may concern: Be it known thatI, OTHO M. Om, c tizen ofthe United States, residing at the clty of Jamestown, in the county ofChautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fold ing Tables, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to folding tables; and the improvement consists inprovlding a simple top or tray, suitable for hospital view of the underand similar uses, with bent spring rod legs which are hinged to theunder side of said top or tray by means of holding clips or hingingbracket pieces which are so shaped as to receive said spring legs intoand out of hinging and latching engagement both for attachment andremoval of said legs and for holding said legs in the set-up and foldingpositions, the integral resllience of said legs providing the expandingor contracting holding force within said hinging and latch ing clips orbrackets; and the invention consists in the novel features andcombinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the table in theset-up position showing the-preferred form of top or tray and of thespring legs. Fig. 2 is a perspective side of the folding table showingthe simple form of latching and hinging brackets at one end and the moreelaborate and stronger form of brackets at the other, with the foldinglegs supported in different positions by said brackets. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of a front corner of the top showing the tubular end ofthe front roll with the round headed closure plug therein.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the preferred forms ofspring'legs removed from the hinging brackets on the table top. Fig..

5 is an edgewise elevation of one of the simple or skeleton forms ofhinging clips which is attached to the under side of the top or traypreferably by spot welding, and showing the end of the leg in the foldedposition,

' the remainder of the leg :being broken away and the set-up positionshown in dotted line.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the oppositely placed hinging clips or bracketson the underside of the top, with portions of the spring leg in dottedand solid outline to show the movement of the same from the set up tothe folded position. Fig. 7. shows a perspective view of the simple orskeleton form of one hinging and looking foldable so that all that thesame from the set-up-position is to comdiflerence in the v t YSpecification; of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 15, 1919,, Applicationfiled August 17, 1918. Serial No. 250,802..

the upturned locking point and latch for the p ng and Fig; 9 is aperspective view of a slight change of the simpler form of bracket forthe spring legs which gives a la -ger and stronger weldlng attachment tothe top.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the severalviews.

The numeral 10 designates the top or tray which is preferably made ofsheet metal of sufiicient weight and in the tray or guarded form so thatit may be enameled, preferably w1th hard or vitreous same hygienic. Oneof the simple forms of said top is shown having an upwardly extendingguard rail 11 around three sides and a downwardly extending cylindricalroll 12 across the open front edge of the same. The

. roll 12 has a round headed closure plug 13 sign from a metallic rod,preferably of spring metal, so that the leg 14 will of its ownresilience spring into able holding clips or hinge holding clips may thelegs 14 rigidly up position. The legs made in the U-shape withoppositely turned ends 15 so as to engage beneath said holdingbrackets.- They would serve a good purpose in thus being made removablewithout hinging to fold the same but are preferably made is necessary tofold and out of suitbrackets. These be arranged so as to hold press orexpand the two arms of the prefera'bly U -shaped leg thereby releasingsaid spring legs from the holding notches and permltting the folding ofthe leg against the underside of the top 10, thespring of the coatingsto render the yet removably in the set- 14 are preferably leg holdingthe. same in both the folded and set up positions. v

In order to so hinge the u per ends 15 of the leg 14 they are prefera 1yturned outward as shown in Fig. 4 so that the two'portions of the springleg will lock between holding clips or brackets 16 and 17 which areshaped :nearly alike except that they are rights and lefts, there onlybeing a sight shape of the latching rojection so as to better controlthe spring egs in springing them into holding engagement with the clipsor hinging brackets 16 and 17 in turning from the folded to the set upposition.

Each of the clips 16 and 17 in their simple form as provided for thelighter tables are provided with a raised portion 18, and open endedslot 19 extending up into the raised ortion 18 sufiiciently to permitthe angular eg end 15 of the leg 14 to extend into the slot 19 from theinner side. The side 20 of the raised portion 18 is made at an inclinedangle so that when the spring leg 14 is turned to the folded position itwill. lock ingly hold in said folded position beneath the incline 20 ofthe clips 16 and 17. The

slot 19 permits the end 15 to hingingly spring thereinto so that it maybe turned from the folded to the set up positions or the reverse, apreferably V-shaped notch 21 being provided in the raised portion 18 atone side into which the leg 14 springs and resiliently holds one arm ofsaid leg 14, the other arm being held in the similar notch 21 in theopposite clip; thus the two clips 16 and 17 firmly hold the resilientleg 14 in either the folded or set up position. The projections 22 and23 are made slightly different on clips 16 and 17, the pro]ection 22 notbeing used as the riding or leading edge for the leg 14 on that side,while the projection 23 is more rounded and the outer edge is flangedupward slightly so as to form a convenient surface for leading thespring arm of the leg into the notch 21, thus when the le 14 is raisedfrom the folded position t e arm of said leg which engages in the notch21 in the clip 16 is first inserted I and the opposite arm naturallyfollows as it is press around the turned up or cam shaped point 23. Boththe clips 16 and 17 are attached to the under side'of the top preferablyby spot welding through the attaching lugs 24.

A slight .change of the simpler form of clip shown in Figs. 6-8 is shownin Fig. 9, in which the slot 19 and notch 21 with latchin'g projectionis made substantially the same. The attaching or welding part of theclip or bracket is closed and braced to 've a larger welding surfacewhich is partlcularly'useful in large tables where strongly attachedclips are used.

The lower ends or feet 30 of the legs 14 are preferably turned to oneside to both 56 give a larger and firmer supporting surface and providea sidewise hand grip for operating and controlling said legs in raisingthem from the folding position against the underside of the top 10 orreplacing them in said folded position.

I claim as new 1. In a folding table, a top, legs for the top havingout-turned inner ends, and sheet metal clips for each leg havingattaching portions and having the part between its endsextended inwardlyon one side at an incline, then approximately parallel to the attachingportlons and connected at its opposite side to the adjacent attachingportions, the last named side being cut-away to leave the adjacent edgeof the parallel art exposed, said edge being cut-away to orm a socketfor receiving the side of the leg, the inclined side bein also cut-awayto receive the out-turned on of the leg.

2. In a folding table, a top, resilient legs having substantially rightangular ends, and sheet metal clips each having a pair of spacedattaching lugs at one end and a body having an inclined part extendinginwardly from the inner ends of the lugs, said inclined part having an aerture alined with the space between the ugs and being extended outwardland approximately parallel to the top and aving a free edge formed witha notch, said apertures and, the spaces between the lugs being formed toreceive the right angular ends 'of the legs and the notches being formedto have the leg sides snap thereinto.

3. In a folding table, a top, resilient legs having substantially ri htangular ends, and sheet metal clips eac having a pair of spacedattaching portions and a bowed portion which latter 1s connected on oneside to the inner end of each of said attaching portion and has anaperture on said side registering with the space between the attachingportions to receive the right angular leg ends and having the oppositeside of its. bowed portion formed with a free edge provided with a notchto receive the side of the leg.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

OTHO M. OTTE.

Witnesses:

H. A. SANDBERG, I. E. Nonns'mom.

